Mt Whitney Zone Forums Active Threads

[b][/b] Mine is low six digits, but dad's is five.. 12046, and I have a photo, if I can figure out how to post it.

I use an Ursack (without the aluminum sleeve that Steve uses) wherever it is legal. I’ve never had a problem. I use a BV500 in Yosemite and some parts of SEKI. BearVault claims 700 cubic inches and 7 days for the BV500. I measured 650 cubic inches. I eat a lot, so I have to pack carefully to get 5 days (4 nights) into a BV500.

Nobody "closes" the switchbacks. With your early date, the switchbacks will just be a deep snow slog, adding extra distance and labor to your climb. Also, the cables section will have so much snow at such a steep angle, that it would be safer to take the chute. And also, others will be taking the chute, so there should be something of a track to follow.

When the “chute” has enough snow, it is the better way to go. The switchbacks are never “open” or “closed”. Here is a trip report addressing this point.

For responsible dog owners, taking your dog on a hike is not as easy as my previous post exaggerated.

If the terrain turns out to be too extreme for your dog, you have to abort. You need to do risk management to make sure you don't get your dog killed (as opposed to just your worthless ass). If your dog gets too tired, you have to turn around. You have to double your water and food in your pack. For example, if a hike recommends 6 liters of water, say hello to carrying 12 liters. Note that you could get your dog a backpack, but wheres the fun in that (for your dog)? If the weather becomes too warm when coming down the mountain (long haired dogs) then you may have rest in the shade until evening and wait for things to cool down. Etc.

Brent your statement is true, the option for driving to the visitors center to get a permit doesn't exist any longer. If you missed the primary lottery there is the option of the secondary lottery where they will release the permits that were not confirmed & paid for. That happens on April 22 at 0700 but you need to be cued up & ready to submit entry because they will be gone in 15 mins. If you miss that then you are subjected to checking online daily for any available permits whenever your travel window is. Also if you do secure a permit the visitor center won't even print it for you. One time last year I wanted to pick up my permit, ended up calling the main permit # & they faxed it right over. Or they can fax or email it to your home for you to print. They are making things ever more difficult. Hope this helps...

The Trail Crest Exit Permit is required to use the Mt Whitney trail to exit via Trail Crest and Whitney Portal. It is the only place you need a permit to use a trail to exit, because lots of people were entering on other trails and all were exiting that way.

If you enter on ANY Inyo National Forest trail, the exit permit is required. It is only people coming in from the west side and Yosemite that can exit without the exit permit.

You can still do Whitney this year, just not by the Mt. Whitney Trail. Look for a permit departing from Cottonwood Lakes/Shepherd Pass/Kearsarge Pass with a Trail Crest exit for later in the season (late August through September). You can leave a car at Whitney Portal, shuttle to your trailhead, and spend 4-5 days hiking in the SEKI backcountry on your way to summiting Whitney on the last day of your trip.

The first time I tried Whitney was June 19, 2011. The winter of 2010-11 had about the record for most snow (until this year maybe). I think we hit snow somewhere past Outpost Camp, around 11,000 feet. I would expect similar conditions this year around the same time.

In 2011 we had no experience in snow but rented crampons and gave it a shot anyway. Going up the chute was physically challenging, but I felt pretty comfortable otherwise. Trail crest was as far as we got on account of it being late in the day. I did find going back down the chute pretty intimidating, having no experience doing something like that.

This could be an epic year to shovel snow!